Officials say the Northeast is experiencing an alarming shortage of the shingles vaccine that, left unsolved, could spread the painful and harmful virus to many this winter.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over a lifetime, one in three people wil develop Shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash all over the body. Many people had chickenpox when they were children. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body. It can reactivate years later, causing shingles.
Until recently, Zostavax was the vaccine of choice. It reduced the risk of shingles by 51 percent. Then along came Shingrix, shown to be more than 90 percent effective.
The vaccine is recommended for those 50 and older, and patients typically receive two doses separated by two to six months. New York State Assemblyman John McDonald, who owns and operates Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes, says it's on high demand nationwide. "I can tell you candidly that since October we have not been able to receive any vaccine, and that is consistent for all pharmacies. There were a few pharmacies that had an existing stock that they've worn through, so we're at a situation now where patients have been given their first dose and aren't able to get their second dose within the required timeframe, which is four to six months after the first dose. So it's becoming a major problem."
McDonald says the FDA is doing its best to monitor the situation and the manufacturer has been keeping in touch with pharmacies. He adds Shingrix is usually dispensed at no cost to the patient.
New York State Health Department Spokesperson Erin Silk: "As the demand for the new shingles vaccine remains high, the state Department of Health is monitoring the situation closely, and is in regular communication with the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. The department recommends New Yorkers having trouble locating a vaccine visit vaccinefinder.org to locate a provider or pharmacy that has the vaccine available. If necessary, the department also recommends people put their name on a wait list if their provider or pharmacy offers one."
McDonald notes there's a long wait list at Marra's. "We are ordering every single day of the year, no matter if it’s a weekday or weekend, with the hope that we'll be able to receive a supply. But my concern is that back in October I was assured that sometime by December this would be addressed and here we are in the middle of January and we're still waiting for a supply, and it's not just our pharmacy, it's every pharmacy."
- Read more on the CDC's Shingles Vaccination recommendations here.
- To find doctor’s offices or pharmacies near you that offer the vaccine, visit HealthMap Vaccine Finder.
